Save the Date - MBA Banquet - January 28, 2018

MBA Awards Banquet

Ride Blog

Posted on April 17, 2016

We have always had changes to the map inventory due to corrections, road issues and route changes. With the introduction of Ride with GPS maps and GPS data for every MBA route (over 250 routes) we will have even more change. To provide documentation and communication of these changes we are introducing the "ride blog". The ride blog will be a reverse chronological order inventory of every change to the maps or Ride with GPS catalog. The ride blog is here on the rides tab.

Ride with GPS

Posted on March 17, 2016

Ride with GPS has created a new club account feature. It allows us to have an MBA page on RwGPS and allows all MBA members to use premium RwGPS features on all MBA routes - for free. We have all of our club routes mapped and ready to be used on a Garmin or Smartphone. You need to sign up for a free Ride with GPS account
here.
After you create your sign-in (either via facebook or directly) you will need to go to manage account and enter your true first and last name so that when you request access to the MBA club account we may know who you are and that you are a club member.
You should request access to the MBA club account
here.
If you find any errors or have any questions send an e-mail to info@mbabike.com.

10th Annual Polar Bear Ride

Posted on December 22, 2017

The Polar Bear Ride will start from the Martin's in Granger at 1:00 pm on January 1, 2018. Distances from 4 to 32 miles. Joins us in Martin's café for hot drinks afterward. Join us whether or not you want to ride. Martin's is at the intersection of IN-23 and Adams Rd. You do not have to be an MBA member to participate in this ride.

Local and non-local rides

Posted on November 14, 2017

Those of you who have explored our website will know that our Links page lists organized local and non-local rides. The rides included are rides that our members have participated in. Do you have suggestions for additions or deletions? Email info@mbabike.com, if you have a suggested edits to the Links page.

Still riding

Posted on October 10, 2017

Check out the our ride Calendar as we continue to ride as weather allows. Come ride with us.

Poker Ride and Amishland Food

Posted on July 31, 2016

The Poker Ride and Amishland Food Feast will be this Wednesday, August 2nd after the Clay High School ride (6:00 pm). Join us for bike ride, a chance to win some prizes and also to enjoy some leftover Amishland food.

Amishland Volunteer Sign-up

Posted on April 21, 2017

It is time to start the process of recruiting volunteers for Amishland 2017. Please mark your calendar for the Amishland date - July 29th.

We will be using our on-line volunteer system (SignUp) again this year. The on-line system will allow you to look through all of the volunteer slots at your convenience and find the best spots for you. Please be sure to enter your t-shirt size.

To encourage volunteers to sign-up and to recognize those who do we have the following volunteer rewards.

1) If you volunteer 2 or more hours you get an Amishland T-shirt - you must sign-up by July 10th to ensure you get a t-shirt

2) If you volunteer 4 or more hours you get free Amishland Registration

3) If you volunteer 4 or more hours you get a free "post-ride" meal (even if you do not ride).

5) All volunteers will be invited to a volunteer recognition party in October

If you earn free Amishland Registration and are going to ride Amishland you will also need to complete a Volunteer Registration / Waiver form. Mail in the form or hand it to Dick Kuehl at a ride. The volunteer registration form is here.

4th of July Ride

Posted on June 22, 2017

We will have a special July 4th ride from Clay at 8:30 am on Tuesday July 4th.

Summer Solstice Potluck

Posted on June 5, 2017

The Summer Solstice Potluck Ride will be Wednesday, June 21, 2017 at Bertrand Township Hall (3835 Buffalo Road, Buchanan, MI). We will ride at 6:00 pm and then have a potluck afterwards. The club will provide beverages and a main dish. No RSVP required. Buffalo Road in front of the Township Hall has been turned to gravel so a new map/cue sheet/ride with GPS map has been created. This new map is titled Bertrand Township (Alternate).

Summer Picnic - June 4th

Posted on April 4, 2017

We are going to return to Ox Bow County Park for the June picnic this year. The date is Sunday, June 4th. The park does not open until 9:00 am. The 47 mile riders will leave at 9:30, the 31 miles riders will leave at 10:30 am and the 17 and 22 mile riders will leave at 11:00 am. Ox Bow is a very nice park on SR 33 between Elkhart and Goshen (map). The picnic will be a potluck with the club providing drinks and grilled meat. The MapleHeart Trail is in front of the park. We will use the MapleHeart and Pumpkinvine trails for this ride. A map and cue sheet is available on the ride maps page. The GPS files are available on Ride with GPS.

We will have lunch at 12:45.

Leisure Ride @ The Brick - May 15th

Posted on April 19, 2017

As part of Bike to Work Week there will be a group ride from The Brick on Monday, May 15th at 6:00 pm. The MBA Leisure Ride on the 15th will join this event and also start from The Brick. The Brick is located at 1145 Northside Blvd in South Bend.

Brats and Beer - May 10th

Posted on April 4, 2017

We are going try a new event for our May social activity: Brats and Beer. The Wednesday, May 10th ride is going to start from our president's (Greg not Donald) house (21857 Pine Hollow Lane, SB, 46628). The routes will be similar to the Tire Rack ride. After the ride the club will provide Brat's and Beer. We will also provide non-alcoholic and vegatarian options. The map for the ride is here. Please RSVP by clicking the SignUp button.

Kick-Off Ride and Potluck - April 2

Posted on March 19, 2017

The spring Kick-Off ride will be Sunday April 2nd at Ferretti-Baugo County Park (57057 Ash Rd, Osceola). We will ride at 1:00 and then have a potluck afterwards in the Moat room (2nd floor) of Baugo Station. Plan on eating at about 3:15. The club will provide beverages.

4-day Ride - August 16-20

Posted on March 12, 2017

We have a date for this summer's 4-day ride to Galena, IL. It will be August 16-20. There is more info on the 4-day ride page. If you plan to participate please sign-up on the 4-day ride page.

Swap Meet Volunteers

Posted on January 28, 2017

We need a small number of volunteers to help with the swap meet on Sunday, March 26th. Sign-up here.

Swap Meet - March 26

Posted on January 11, 2017

The 2017 Bicycle Swap Meet will be Sunday, March 26. The location will again be the Red Barn at St. Patrick's County Park. Seller setup will begin at 10:45 am and we will be open for buyers from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm.

Member Survey

Posted on March 13, 2017

If you have not taken the MBA member survey please do so as soon as possible. We are going to end the survey on Saturday, March 18th. The link to the survey is: here.

MBA Banquet

Posted on February 12, 2017
Reported by Vicki Walters, Photos by Steve Guthrie and Vicki Walters

The MBA Season '16 Awards Banquet was held at Villa Macri's on Sunday, January 29. No one should have been surprised to see the snow, as it always seems to snow on banquet night. Despite the weather, a great time was had by all. After dinner, Club president, Greg Hicks, spoke to the group about why he likes riding with the club, the success of last year's Amishland and Lakes with special thanks to Dick Kuehl for leading the event and the move from Howe to Lakeland HS. Greg also announced the 2017 Board of Directors and Board Members. They are:

President - Greg Hicks

Vice-President - Bonnie Yoder

Secretary - Teresa Sheppard

Treasurer - Dick Kuehl

Board Member - Chris Vanden Bossche

Board Member / Marketing - Jason Fritz

Board Member - Gary Gabrich

Board Member - JoAnne Gabrich

Board Member - Steve Guthrie

Board Member - Doug Knapman

Board Member - Laura Ray

Board Member - Vicki Walters

The following individuals received awards:

Most Club Miles Male: Dick Kuehl (3,809)

Most Club Miles Female: Vicki Walters (3,010)

2nd Most Club Miles Male: Mike McGuigan (3,009)

2nd Most Club Miles Female: Dixie Couch (896)

3rd Most Club Miles Male: Steve Miller (2,346)

3rd Most Club Miles Female: Teresa Sheppard (756)

4th Most Club Miles Male: Greg Hicks (2,255)

4th Most Club Miles Female: Lisa Scheibelhut (616)

5th Most Club Miles Male: Steve Guthrie (2,100)

5th Most Club Miles Female: Laura Ray (416)

Most Incremental Miles Male: Mike McGuigan (1,195)

Most Incremental Miles Female: Vicki Walters (335)

Most Miles New Member Male: Dan Metzger (1,000)

Most Miles New Member Female: Christine Staehler (116)

Most Leisure Night Rides: Teresa Sheppard (17)

A special award was given to Mike McGuigan for Most "Get-to-the-Ride" Miles. We estimate that Mike, who lives in Saugatuck, Michigan, drove approximately 12,000 miles (160 miles round-trip) to get to the 76 MBA rides he participated in last year. Mike's award was a $25 gas card and a book on CD.

In addition to these awards, twelve $25 bike shop gift cards given out as door prizes. Congratulations to all the winners!!

Dates to remember . . . The Swap Meet is March 26 and we are looking for volunteers. Please sign-up here. The Kick-off Ride is Sunday, April 2, at Ferrettie/Baugo Creek County Park. Amishland and Lakes is Saturday, July 29.

If you are interested in participating in this year's 4-day ride in Galena, IL, please complete the select-the-date survey on the 4-day ride page by February 28, 2017.

Swap Meet - March 26

Posted on January 11, 2017

The 2017 Bicycle Swap Meet will be Sunday, March 26. The location will again be the Red Barn at St. Patrick's County Park. Seller setup will begin at 10:45 am and we will be open for buyers from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm.

4-day Ride

Posted on January 19, 2017

The club is planning for a 4-day ride to Galena, Illinois this year. There is more info on the 4-day ride page. We would like your input to finalize the date for the ride. If you are interested please complete the survey on the 4-day ride page. We would like to settle on a date in mid-February, so please vote by then.

Special Ride - Wednesday, February 21

Posted on February 20, 2017

Our normal weekday ride is on Tuesday. However it is supposed to rain this Tuesday and the current warm spell is supposed to end on Saturday. To take advantage of our unusually warm weather we have scheduled a ride for Wednesday this week. It will be on Wednesday, February 22 at 1:00 pm starting from Knollwood. Join us if you can. We are keeping our normal Tuesday ride on the schedule in case the weather clears up.

Polar Bear Ride

Posted on January 1, 2017

We had great turnout for the Polar Bear Ride. Watch a short video of the start.

Membership Renewal

Posted on January 30, 2017

It is time to renew your membership for 2017. If you are over 70 and eligible for free membership you still need to submit a membership form each year. The paper form and online membership link are both available on the membership tab.

MBA Banquet - January 29, 2017

Posted on January 4, 2017

The MBA Banquet will be Sunday evening, January 29, 2017 at Villa Macri Ristorante. Gathering and mixing at 5:00 pm, dinner at 6:00 pm. Dinner service will be a buffet with chicken, seafood and a pasta option. Rider awards - including some new ones will be presented. As is traditional there will also be lots of door prizes. The 2017 officers and board members will be introduced. Invitations have been sent. If you did not get yours, please drop us a note at info@mbabike.com.

MBA Banquet - Save the Date

Posted on November 9, 2016

The MBA Banquet will be Sunday evening, January 29, 2017 at Villa Macri Ristorante. More details will be provided as we get closer.

9th Annual Polar Bear Ride

Posted on December 26, 2016

The Polar Bear Ride will start from the Martin's in Granger at 1:00 pm on January 1, 2017. Distances from 4 to 32 miles. Joins us in Martin's café for hot drinks afterward. Whether or not you want to ride, you may join us at the Martin's café. Martin's is at the intersection of IN-23 and Adams Rd. You do not have to be an MBA member to participate in this ride.

2017 Amishland and Lakes

Posted on December 19, 2016

We have a date for the 2017 Amishland and Lakes Ride. It will be Saturday, July 29th. We have begun the planning for the 2017 ride. If you would like to help with the planning effort, please contact us at info@mbabike.com.

Pizza Ride

Posted on August 10, 2016

The MBA will be hosting a pizza party for club members after the ride on Wednesday, September 21st. The 21st will be the first 5:30 pm ride start this fall. The pizza party will be at Starlite Pizza on Bittersweet with food service starting at 7:30 pm.

4-day Ride - Sign-Up Now

The date for this year's 4-day ride to Harbor Springs / Petosky, Michigan will be 9/14 - 9/18. Details are available on the 4-day ride page. If you are going to go please sign up as soon as possible.

Membership Renewal

Posted on March 28, 2016

If you have not already renewed your membership for 2016, please do so as soon as possible. If you are over 70 and eligible for free membership you still need to submit a membership form each year. The paper form and online membership link are both available on the membership tab.

MBA Jersey

Posted on June 16, 2015

We are going to place another jersey order on August 15th. This will be the last order this year. The base price for MBA members is just $25. More info on the jersey page.

Leisure Ride

Posted on March 27, 2016

The Leisure Ride season is upon us. With the warm spring we are going to start this year on Monday, April 11th. The season will go through at least September 26th on the back end. As in previous years the leisure rides will be on Mondays at 6:00 pm, always starting from Pinhook. Leisure rides are perfect for new riders, families and anyone who wants ride at slower pace with a group that stays together. The leisure ride takes advantage of access to the bike paths along the river and on the Notre Dame campus. The ride will be 11-12 miles at about 10 mph. You do not need to be a member of the MBA to participate in the Leisure Ride (or any other MBA ride).

Poker Ride and Amishland Food

Posted on July 31, 2016

The Poker Ride and Amishland Food Feast will be this Wednesday, August 3rd after the Clay High School ride (6:00 pm). Join us for bike ride, a chance to win some prizes and also to enjoy some leftover Amishland Food.

Amishland Volunteer Sign-up

Updated on June 6, 2016

As you know there have been significant changes to the format for this year's Amishland. The number of volunteer hours required will be less than previous years, but it will still require a significant effort by many volunteers to accomplish a successful Amishland and Lakes.

We will be using an on-line volunteer system again this year. The on-line system will allow you to look through all of the volunteer slots at your convenience and find the best spots for you. Please be sure to enter your t-shirt size. Please note that Volunteer Spot has changed their name to SignUp.

To encourage volunteers to sign-up and to recognize those who do we have the following volunteer rewards.

1) If you volunteer 2 or more hours you get an Amishland T-shirt - you must sign-up by July 5th to ensure you get a t-shirt

2) If you volunteer 4 or more hours you get free Amishland Registration

3) If you volunteer 4 or more hours you get a free "post-ride" meal (even if you do not ride).

4) If you volunteer 12 or more hours you will be entered in a drawing for three gift cards ($100, $50 and $25)

5) All volunteers will be invited to a volunteer recognition party in October

If you earn free Amishland Registration and are going to ride Amishland you will also need to complete a Volunteer Registration / Waiver form. Mail in the form or hand it to Dick Kuehl at a ride. The volunteer registration form is here.

Instant Replay

Posted on July 25, 2016

We will have ice cream again after the Knollwood ride on Wednesday, July 27th.

Bloom and Zoom - July 23rd

Posted on May 3, 2016

Bike Elkhart's Bloom and Zoom event benefits United Cancer Services and Habitat for Humanity of Elkhart County. We have heard good feedback from MBA riders who have done this ride in previous years. More info on the ride website

July Social Event - Ice Cream

Posted on July 4, 2016

We will have ice cream after the Tire Rack ride on Wednesday, July 20th.

Sumnerville - July 17th

Posted on July 10, 2016

We are going to have a special 53 mile route with a stop at the Wright Place in Sister Lakes for Skinny Pancakes on Sunday, July 17th. The normal Sumnerville NE routes will also be available, but this custom route is an old favorite that includes Dutch Settlement and a trip down Decatur Hill. The first half of the route is pretty hilly with the peak at the turn from Dutch Settlement on to Decatur Road. The second half of the route is much flatter with a stop at the Wright Place at mile 40. Cue sheets will be provided at the ride. The route is on RwGPS as SUMNERVILLE-53.

4th of July Rides

Posted on June 30, 2016

We will have a special July 4th ride from Edwardsburg at 8:30 am on Monday July 4th. We will also have the normal Monday Leisure ride from Pinhook at 6:00 pm.

Summer Solstice Potluck - Rescheduled

Posted on June 22, 2016

WSBT Features MBA

Posted on June 9, 2016

WSBT featured the MBA in a segment about the accident in Kalamazoo that killed 5 bicyclists.

The Summer Solstice Potluck Ride has been rescheduled for Wednesday, June 29, 2016 at Bertrand Township Hall (3835 Buffalo Road, Buchanan, MI). We will ride at 6:00 pm and then have a potluck afterwards. The club will provide beverages and brats. No RSVP required. Due to road construction in the area a new map/cue sheet/ride with GPS map has been created. This new map is titled Bertrand Township (Alternate).

Summer Solstice Potluck

Posted on April 17, 2016

Due to the severe weather forecast for tomorrow afternoon/evening we are going to postpone the potluck. If the weather clears we will still have a ride, just no potluck. We will let you know the details on rescheduled event in the next few days.

The Summer Solstice Potluck Ride will be Wednesday, June 22, 2016 at Bertrand Township Hall (3835 Buffalo Road, Buchanan, MI). We will ride at 6:00 pm and then have a potluck afterwards. The club will provide beverages and brats. No RSVP required. Due to road construction in the area a new map/cue sheet/ride with GPS map has been created. This new map is titled Bertrand Township (Alternate).

2016 Amishland and Lakes

Posted on October 4, 2015

We have a date for the 2016 Amishland and Lakes Ride. It will be Saturday, July 30th. We also have some significant changes for the 2016 ride. The home base for Amishland is moving from The Howe School to Lakeland High School in LaGrange (6 miles south of Howe). This year's ride will also be a one day ride with routes that largely correspond with the Saturday portion of previous rides. The longer routes will see the addition of the lake filled loop around Wolcottville. On-line registration will open on January 1, 2016. More details on this year's ride will be posted on our Amishland Facebook page and on amishlandlakes.com as they become available.

4-day Ride

Posted on June 2, 2016

The club is planning for a 4-day ride to Petosky, Michigan this year. We would like your input to finalize the date for the ride. If you are interested please complete a survey at this link: http://survey.sogosurvey.com/k/RQsXSSTsQUsPsPsP

Picnic Update

Posted on May 31, 2016

The picnic is this Sunday, June 5th at Ox Bow Park. We will be using the Fisherman's Camp Shelter. It is labeled "1" on this park map. 31 and 47 mile riders should plan on leaving at 9:30. 17 and 22 mile riders should depart at 10:30. Lunch will be at 12:45. The park has an entry fee. A pass for free park entry has been sent to everyone who RSVP'd (and provided their name). If you are going to ride and need a pass, send an e-mail to info@mbabike.com and we will send you one.

We will have the picnic rain or shine. We have a very large shelter to protect us from any rain. Rain in the morning? We can ride after the picnic.

RSVP for Picnic

Posted on May 23, 2016

If you are going to attend the June 5th Ox Bow Park picnic please RSVP as soon as possible - no later than Tuesday, May 31st.

Summer Picnic - June 5th

Posted on April 25, 2016

The Lee Potluck Ride has been a very popular MBA event for the past seven or so years. With Bill and Judy now full time Florida residents we needed a replacement event, and now we have one! We have scheduled a picnic ride from Ox Bow County Park on Sunday, June 5th. Ox Bow is a very nice park on SR 33 between Elkhart and Goshen (map). The club is going to supply all the food (burgers, brats and other picnic food). We will also have a vegetarian option. The MapleHeart Trail is in front of the park. We will use the MapleHeart and Pumpkinvine trails for this ride. We have four routes: 17, 22, 31 and 47 miles. A map and cue sheet is available on the ride maps page. The GPS files are available on Ride with GPS.

Kick-Off Ride and Potluck - April 3

Posted on February 17, 2016

The spring Kick-Off ride will be Sunday April 3, 2016 at Ferretti-Baugo County Park (57057 Ash Rd, Osceola). We will ride at 1:00 and then have a potluck afterwards in the Moat room (2nd floor) of Baugo Station. Plan on eating at about 3:30. The club will provide beverages.

Swap Meet - March 26

Posted on December 22, 2015

The 2016 Bicycle Swap Meet will be Saturday, March 26. The location will again be the Red Barn at St. Patrick's County Park. Seller setup will begin at 10:45 am and we will be open for buyers from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm.

Where we Live

Posted on July 17, 2015

Click on the map to see where MBA members reside. There are three member locations that are not on the map, Sagatuck, MI and and two locations in Florida.

MBA Jersey

Posted on December 23, 2015

The MBA has new jersey design and is ready to take orders. The price for MBA members is just $25. More info on the jersey page.

MBA Banquet

Posted on December 31, 2015

The MBA Banquet will be January 31, 2016 at Papa Vino's Italian Kitchen. Cocktail hour will be from 5-6 with dinner, awards and door prizes to follow. Music will be from 5-7 by the French Quarter, a jazz quartet.

Cost of dinner for MBA members is $10.00. You will also have the opportunity to renew your MBA membership for 2016 for only $25.00.

RSVP invitations have been sent to current members. If you have any questions contact Kristin Brandon -

Membership

Posted on September 1, 2015

If you are not currently an MBA member, now is the time to join. The 2016 membership year starts on September 1, 2015. By joining now you get the benefits of membership for the rest of this year and all of next year. The paper form and online membership link are both available on the membership tab.

8th Annual Polar Bear Ride

Posted on December 22, 2015

The Polar Bear Ride will start from the Martin's in Granger at 11:00 am on January 1, 2016. The goal is to start the year with a ride, even a short one (we'll have some very short routes), then to gather at the Martin's café for hot drinks afterward. Whether or not you want to ride, you may join us at the Martin's café. Martin's is at the intersection of IN-23 and Adams Rd. You do not have to be an MBA member to participate in this ride.

Volunteer Recognition Party

Posted on October 18, 2015

Invitations for this year's Volunteer Party have been sent. The volunteer party recognizes those who volunteered at Amishland, the Spring Road Clean-up or served as an MBA officer or board member this year. If you volunteered for one of these activities and did not receive an invitation please contact us at info@mbabike.com.

Leisure Ride

Posted on May 5, 2015

This year the Leisure Ride season will be extended to include May on the front end and September on the back end. As in previous years the leisure rides will be on Mondays at 6:00 pm, always starting from Pinhook. Leisure rides are perfect for new riders, families and anyone who wants ride at slower pace with a group that stays together. The leisure ride takes advantage of access to the bike paths along the river and on the Notre Dame campus. The ride will be 11-12 miles at about 10 mph. You do not need to be a member of the MBA to participate in the Leisure Ride (or any other MBA ride).

Pizza Ride

Posted on August 17, 2015

The MBA will be hosting a pizza party for club members after the ride on Wednesday, September 23rd. The 23rd will be the first 5:30 pm ride start this fall. The pizza party will be at Starlite Pizza on Bittersweet with food service starting at 7:30 pm.

Berrien County Roads

Posted on July 26, 2015

It is the season for chip and seal and many Berrien County Roads have had gravel spread on them making them challenging to ride on. For the time being we are not changing routes, but be aware that you may need to navigate around some of these areas.

The following have been affected or are scheduled for work:
Buchanan, Niles, Three Oaks area,
Buffalo Rd from Bakertown east to bottom of hill, from Boyle Lake to Sage, and from Nye to Rickermann,
Olive Branch from Reed to Boyle Lake,
Gardner from Elm Valley to Wagner,
Flynn from Kruger to Elm Valley and Harbert to Sawyer,
Snow from Spitzke to Hills,
Weaver north and south of US-12 and
Bond from Bell to Fort.

There are also a large number of roads northeast of Berrien Springs, notably:
Tabor from Hillandale to Evans and
Evans from Hipps Hollow to Pipestone

For a large map showing the plans for 2015 click the map.

Volunteers

Posted on May 5, 2015

We need volunteers to lead the Leisure Rides.

Click below to sign-up to lead one or more Leisure Rides.

4-day Ride

Posted on June 18, 2015

The 4-day ride to Galena, IL September 3rd to September 6th is a go. There is some information about Galena and photos from the 2012 ride on the 4-day ride page. If you are interested in going please sign up below. You should also make your hotel reservation in Galena (see info sheet below).

Amishland Jersey

Posted on August 10, 2015

Amishland Jerseys, Shorts and Caps will be available for order until Sunday, August 16th. Order on the Amishland website.

Poker Ride and Amishland Food

Posted on August 10, 2015

The Poker Ride and Amishland Food Feast will be this Wednesday, August 12th after the Clay High School ride (6:00 pm). Join us for bike ride, a chance to win some prizes and also to enjoy some leftover Amishland Food.

Packet Stuffing

Posted on August 1, 2015

Amishland packet stuffing will be Tuesday, August 4th at 6:00 pm at the German Township Hall on Portage between Brick and Auten. It will take about 1.5 hours and we will have pizza afterwards. If you are going to help please sign-up on Volunteer Spot.

Amishland Volunteer Sign-up

Posted on April 9, 2015

Amishland and Lakes (aka ALL) is less than 1 week away. We still have many volunteer spots to fill. Please help.

It takes a significant effort by over 100 volunteers to make ALL happen. We need the assistance of the entire club membership to fill over 200 volunteer slots.

Membership dues only pay for about 15% of the clubs annual budget. The rest of the budget is funded by the profit we make on Amishland. Those profits also enable the club to support cycling in our community, in our state and nationally.

We will be using an on-line volunteer system this year (no more red book). The on-line system will allow you to look through all of the volunteer slots at your convenience and find the best spots for you. Please be sure to enter your t-shirt size.

To encourage volunteers to sign-up and to recognize those who do we are making some changes to our volunteer rewards.

1) If you volunteer 3 hours or more you get an Amishland T-shirt

2) If you volunteer 6 hours or more you get free Amishland Registration

3) If you volunteer 18 hours or more you get 4 free Amishland meals

4) All volunteers who work 3 or more hours will be entered in a drawing for 3 gift cards ($100, $50 and $25)

5) All volunteers will be invited to a volunteer recognition party in October

Bonnie Yoder is the volunteer coordinator for Amishland again this year. Contact Bonnie if you have any questions about volunteering. E-mail her at: marbonyod@att.net

If you earn free Amishland Registration and are going to ride Amishland you will also need to complete a Volunteer Registration / Waiver form. Mail in the form or hand it to Bonnie Yoder or Dick Kuehl. The volunteer registration form is here.

You may order a Jersey, Shorts or a Cap at our Pactimo Team Store. The password is amishland.

Starter Ride

Posted on May 5, 2015

The Starter Ride is designed to provide a predictable group ride for new or casual road bike riders. The group will be lead by 2 experienced MBA bikers. The group will go 15-20 miles at 12-13 mph and stay together (no drops) for the entire ride. The Starter Ride series will continue through the riding season (May to September), always on Saturday at the same location and start time as the regular MBA ride. You do not need to be a member of the MBA to participate in the Starter Ride (or any other MBA ride).

July Social Event - Root Beer Floats

Posted on June 29, 2015

We will have root beer floats and ice cream sundaes after the Horizon ride on Wednesday, July 15th at 6:00 pm.

July 3rd Ride in Honor of the 4th of July

Posted on June 30, 2015

Friday, July 3rd is the "observed" date for the July 4th Holiday this year. We will have a July 3rd ride for those looking to celebrate on their bike. The ride will be Edwardsburg East at 8:30 am.

Summer Solstice Ride

Posted on April 13, 2015

The weather forecast for tomorrow evening is not good, but who knows what the actual weather will be.
We are going to have the Solstice Potluck rain or shine.
The schedule will be:

If it is raining: 6:00 - 6:30 social time / appetizers, 6:30 eat

If we ride: 6:00 -7:30 ride, 7:30 eat

If you have not RSVP'd please do so asap

The Summer Solstice Ride will be Wednesday June 17, 2015 at German Township Hall (51755 Portage Rd, South Bend). We will ride at 6:00 pm and then have a potluck afterwards. The club will provide beverages and burgers and brats prepared by Chef Couch. Please RSVP by answering a quick survey.

Map Updates

Posted on April 26 2015

The Tuesday / Weekend Dowagiac map was modified several years ago due to Valley Road devolving to dirt. The road is a hard surface again so the map has been reverted to the original map. The Sumnerville Northwest Weekend map has also been updated due to a stretch on the 28 mile route devolving to gravel. The new maps are available on the maps page.

Map Updates

Posted on April 13 2015

One of the suggestions presented to a recent meeting of the Ride Committee was to have more breakfast / brunch rides. Chris has made a number of changes to meet this request. The Sumnerville NE routes have been modified to provide for a food stop at The Wright Place in Sister Lakes. The Bonneyville routes have been modified to provide for a food stop in Middlebury or Shipshewana. The Tuesday and Weekend maps for Sumnerville NE and Bonneyville are now the same. The Prairie View weekend map has also been modified to provide for a food stop in LaPorte. A popular stop in LaPorte is Mucho Mas! - 609 Lincolnway. New maps for these routes are on the maps page.

Starter Ride - May 2nd

Posted on April 30 2015

The 2015 Starter Ride series will kick-off this Saturday. These rides are designed to provide a predictable group ride for new or casual road bike riders. The group will be lead by 2 experienced MBA bikers. The group will go 15-20 miles at 12-13 mph and stay together (no drops) for the entire ride. The first ride will be from Warren Elementary School starting at 10:00 am on Saturday, May 2nd. The distance will be 18 miles. The Starter Ride series will continue through the riding season (May to September), always on Saturday at the same location and start time as the regular MBA ride.

YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE A MEMBER TO RIDE WITH THE MBA

Bike Helmets for Kids

Posted on April 7, 2015

For the past six years the MBA has partnered with the Bike Michiana Coalition (BMC) to purchase bike helmets and conduct bike safety training for third graders in South Bend elementary schools. If you would like to help with the helmet distribution and safety training contact Judy Lee. judyalee@embarqmail.com

Leisure Ride - 2015 Kick-Off - May 4th

Posted on April 26 2015

The 2015 Leisure Ride series will start on Monday, May 4th. As in previous years the leisure rides will be on Mondays at 6:00 pm. This year the season will be extended to include May on the front end and September on the back end. The ride start will be at Pinhook Park each week. Leisure rides are perfect for new riders, families and anyone who wants ride at slower pace with a group that stays together. The leisure ride takes advantage of access to the bike paths along the river and on the Notre Dame campus. The ride will be 11-12 miles at about 10 mph. You do not need to be a member of the MBA to participate in the leisure ride (or any other MBA ride). The video below is from a 2013 leisure ride.

YOU DO NOT NEED TO BE A MEMBER TO RIDE WITH THE MBA

Lee Potluck - rescheduled - new date June 7th

Posted on June 7, 2015

The forecast for tomorrow (Sunday, May 31) is rain, wind and cold so the picnic is being delayed a week, The new date is Sunday, June 7th. All of the other details remain the same.

The annual ride and potluck from the Lee's house will be Sunday, June 7th this year. Rides will start at 9:00 for the 36 and 50 mile riders and at 10:00 for the 11, 18 and 26 mile riders. The potluck will start at noon. RSVP appreciated.

Bring your bike, bring a dish, and after the ride enjoy the food and fellowship with your fellow cyclists. RSVP appreciated. Call or email Judy at: Home 574 586-3472, Cell: 574 360-3472, Email: JudyaLee@embarqmail.com Directions: From South Bend take SR 23 to North Liberty. At the blinker light turn right (west) on SR 4 and go 2.5 miles to Walnut Road (an old school house is on the northeast corner). Turn left (south) on Walnut Road and go 1/2 mile to the bridge. Bill and Judy's house (66841 Walnut Road, Walkerton) is the first one on the right after crossing the creek.

11 Mile Leisure Ride: For those that prefer a shorter more leisurely ride there is an 11 mile scenic loop winding through the western edge of St. Joseph County on roads with very little traffic.

18 Mile Ride: If you want a basically flat route a little longer than the leisure ride try the 18 mile loop through Mill Creek and the Fish Lake area.

26 Mile Ride: This basically flat route (with a few hills) goes through Mill Creek and continues northwest then heads south to the Fish Lake area.

36 Mile Loop: A flat route with a few rolling hills passing through Mill Creek then to the north and west toward LaPorte. If ridden at a 15 mph pace you should get back in plenty of time for the pot luck.

50 Mile Loop: A flat route with a few rolling hills passing through Mill Creek then to the north and west toward LaPorte and Kingsbury. If you average 18 mph you will get back before the potluck starts. If you ride a slower pace some of the food might be gone before you get back.

If you will not be riding your help would be appreciated in setting up for the potluck.

MBA Calendar

Posted on April 5, 2015

A new calendar function has been added to the MBA website. It may be accessed from the calendar tab on every page. This calendar provides an easy to navigate view of all of the MBA rides, MBA meetings and major local events. It also significantly reduces the effort it takes to publish the ride schedule on mbabike.com. Please give the calendar a try and let us know your thoughts. The current ride schedule will be eliminated at the end of April. As part of this improvement you may now click an event in the Upcoming Club Rides sidebar and a pop-up will open with all the details about the ride.

Local Pay Rides

Posted on April 2, 2015

On the links tab there is a list of local rides. Pretty much all of the local rides have set their dates for 2015. Check out your options for local pay rides this year. If we missed any let us know.

Ride Start Times

Posted on April 1, 2015

The Tuesday and weekend ride start times change to 11:00 am starting April 4th.

Starter Ride

Posted on April 1, 2015

The MBA is going to host a "starter" ride at each Saturday ride starting in May. These rides are designed to provide a predictable group ride for new or casual road bike riders. The group will be lead by 2 experienced MBA bikers. The group will go 15-20 miles at 12-13 mph and stay together (no drops) for the entire ride. We need MBA volunteers to lead these rides. Click below to sign-up to lead one of these rides.

Leisure Ride

Posted on April 7, 2015

We will have Leisure Rides starting at Pinhook each Monday at 6:00 pm again his year. In the past the Leisure ride has been a June through August event. This year we would like to extend the season and have the Leisure Ride start in May and end in September. We need volunteers to host the Leisure Ride. Click below to sign-up to lead one or more of these rides. 04/14 - the link was bad, fixed now

Lee Potluck - Save the Date - May 31

Posted on March 30, 2015

Mark your calendars - the Lee Potluck will be May 31 this year.

Swap Meet

Posted on March 29, 2015

We had another well attended (and chilly) Swap Meet. Below is a segment WNDU aired about the Swap Meet.

Membership Renewal

Posted on March 17, 2015

If you have not already renewed your membership for 2015, please do so as soon as possible. If you are over 70 and eligible for free membership you still need to submit a membership form each year. The paper form and online membership link are both available on the membership tab.

Spring Road Clean Up - April 18

Posted on March 10, 2015

We need at least 3 more helpers. Please sign-up as soon as possible.

Clean up of our adopted road (Redfield Street between Conrad and Brush) will be Saturday, April 18th at 9:00 am. Meet at Mike and Gail Weaver's - 28223 Redfield Street, Niles, Michigan. The MBA will provide gloves and trash bags. Wear clothes and shoes suitable for walking through heavy grass. There will be snacks for the crew after the clean up. Head over to Edwardsburg after the clean up for the Saturday morning ride.

To help us make sure we have enough helpers (and snacks for all our helpers) please indicate if you will be able to help by signing up.

Kick-Off Ride and Potluck - April 12

Posted on March 7, 2015

The spring Kick-Off ride will be Sunday April 12, 2015 at Bertrand Township Hall. We will ride at 1:00 and then have a potluck afterwards. Plan on eating at about 3:15. The club will provide pulled pork and beverages.

Swap Meet - March 29

Posted on December 8, 2014

The 2015 Bicycle Swap Meet will be Sunday, March 29. The location will again be the Red Barn at St. Patrick's County Park. Seller setup will begin at 10:45 am and we will be open for buyers from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm.

We will have a ride from St. Patrick's after the Swap Meet. Departure at 2:45. Distances of 15, 30 and 35 miles.

Volunteer Recognition Dinner

Posted on October 18, 2014

Please join us for the 2014 MBA Volunteer Recognition Dinner. All MBA members are invited to participate in this event. It will be held on Sunday, November 9, 2014 at 5:30 pm. at the Starlight Pizza on Bittersweet Road in Granger, IN. There will be a cash bar. The menu will include pizza, pasta, garlic bread, salad and soft drinks. There will be gluten free pizza available.

PLEASE R.S.V.P. by Sunday, November 2, 2014 to Vawn Recla: vrecla@aol.com or call 1-269-684-1980. If Vawn is not at home leave a message on her answering machine.

June-July Race Play Michiana

Posted on June 11, 2014

We have been e-mailing Race Play Michiana to the membership, but the June-July issue is so full of great content and photos it is too large to e-mail. There is an article in this issue about Amishland and Lakes. You may view the PDF here.

One and Done - June 14th

Posted on June 4, 2014

On June 14th there will be a one time opportunity to ride on the new US 31 before it opens. The scheduled time is 8:00 am to 12:00 pm. The normal MBA ride on the 14th is Lakeville, so we suggest that if you want to ride US31 in a group with the MBA you plan on parking at the Lakeville ride start (west parking lot of Newton Park) and we will go east on Pierce (SR 4) together to get on US 31.

Waiver Form - Fill it out and bring it with you to speed up entry to the road.

Summer Solstice Ride and Potluck

Posted on May 9, 2014

The Summer Solstice ride will be Wednesday June 18, 2014 at 6:00 p.m. at Madeline Bertrand Park. Bring a dish for a potluck after the ride. The club will provide beverages.

Fall Road Cleanup - RESCHEDULED

Posted on October 3, 2014

Clean up of our adopted road (Redfield Street between Conrad and Brush) has been rescheduled for Saturday, October 18th at 9:00 am. We need about 14 people to help with the cleanup including a couple of drivers to shuttle "pickers" down the road. Meet at Mike and Gail Weaver's - 28223 Redfield Street, Niles, Michigan. The MBA will provide gloves and trash bags. Wear clothes and shoes suitable for walking through heavy grass. Head over to Edwardsburg after the cleanup for the Saturday morning ride.

We will have snacks for the crew after we finish the cleanup.

To help us make sure we have enough helpers (and not too many) please indicate if you will be able to help by adding your name to our volunteer list.

Time Change

Posted on September 26, 2014

The end of Daylight Saving Time will be Sunday November 4th. With sunset coming earlier every day, the Wednesday night rides are now starting at 5:30 pm. The last Wednesday night ride for this season will be October 29th. The start time for the weekend rides will switch from 9:00 am to 11:00 am on October 4th and the Tuesday morning rides will switch to 11:00 am on October 7th. The forecast for the next few weeks looks encouraging, so we hope to see you on the road.

Kid's Triathlon

Posted on June 4, 2014

The MBA is a sponsor of the South Bend Parks and Recreation Kid's Triathlon which is on July 12th this year. The Kid's Triathlon also needs volunteers to help with the event. If you would like to help, contact Paula Garis by June 30th at (574) 299-4778 or pgaris@southbendin.gov.

Leisure Rides

Posted on May 9, 2014

We will have leisure rides on Mondays at 6:00 pm again this year starting on June 2nd. The ride start will be at Pinhook Park each week. Leisure rides are perfect for new riders, families and anyone who wants ride at slower pace with a group that stays together. The leisure ride takes advantage of access to the bike paths along the river and on the Notre Dame campus. Anyone is welcome to ride with the MBA - you do not need to be a member.

Classified Ad Feature

Posted on Apriil 7, 2014

We are going to do a trial run of a classified ad feature on the web site. This service will only be available to club members. All items must be bicycle related. You may post a picture with your ad. Submit your ad to info@mbabike.com

There is a new link in the menu bar to navigate to the classified ad page.

2013 MBA Video

Posted on March 15, 2014

If you missed the Banquet or would just like to see the 2013 MBA Video again it is now available on Vimeo. The password is: granger

Amishland and Lakes

Posted on June 21, 2013

Amishland and Lakes (aka ALL) is just 3 weeks away. It takes a significant effort by over 100 volunteers to make ALL happen. A small team has been meeting regularly since last fall to complete the planning and advance preparations for this year's ride. Now we need the assistance of the entire club membership to fill those 100 volunteer slots.

Membership dues only pay for about 15% of the clubs annual budget. The rest of the budget is funded from the profit we make on Amishland. Those profits also enable the club to support cycling in our community, in our state, in the Midwest and nationally.

As a thank you for volunteering you get to ride Amishland for free, you get a free Amishland t-shirt and you are invited to a volunteer thank-you party in the fall.

Bonnie Yoder is the volunteer coordinator for Amishland. Please contact Bonnie and volunteer to help with this year's ride. E-mail her at: marbonyod@att.net

When you volunteer be sure to complete a paper registration form (write vounteer on the top) so that you will get the proper size t-shirt and so there will be a rider package for you at registration.

Bike Helmets for Kids

Posted on May 17, 2013

For the past five years the MBA has partnered with the Bike Michiana Coalition (BMC) to purchase bike helmets and conduct bike safety training for third graders in South Bend elementary schools. Based on the club's solid financial position the MBA board voted this spring to significantly increase our contribution to this program. The MBA's $3,000 contribution will fund 300 helmets. The BMC contributed $5,000 to this effort. If you would like to help with the helmet distribution and safety training contact Judy Lee.

4-Day Ride

Posted on April 30, 2013

The MBA recently conducted a survey to better understand member preferences with respect to "4-day rides". The results of the survey are available here. Based on the survey the board has approved initiating the planning for a 4-day ride to Traverse City, Michigan this summer. The exact date will be determined based on input from interested riders. If you are interested in participating in this ride please complete this survey to help us determine when the ride will take place. If you are interested in the 4-day ride please complete the survey by May 24th. There is more info on the 4-day ride page.

MBA 2012 Video

Posted on April 30, 2013

A 17 minute video with photos from MBA events in 2012 was presented at the MBA Banquet in January. If you missed the banquet or would like to see the video again it is now available on Vimeo. You will need a password to view the video. Kristin has sent an e-mail with the password to all current MBA members. If you are an active member and did not receive the password send an email to info@mbabike.com and we will send it to you.

Lee Potluck

Posted on April 17, 2013

The annual ride and potluck from the Lee's house will be Sunday June 2nd this year. Rides will start at 9:00 for the 36 and 50 mile riders and at 10:00 for the 11, 18 and 26 mile riders. The potluck will start at noon. More Info

Bring your bike, bring a dish, and after the ride enjoy the food and fellowship with your fellow cyclists. RSVP appreciated. Call or email Judy at: Home 574 586-3472, Cell: 574 360-3472, Email: JudyaLee@embarqmail.com Directions: From South Bend take SR 23 to North Liberty. At the blinker light turn right (west) on SR 4 and go 2.5 miles to Walnut Road (an old school house is on the northeast corner). Turn left (south) on Walnut Road and go 1/2 mile to the bridge. Bill and Judy's house (66841 Walnut Road, Walkerton) is the first one on the right after crossing the creek.

11 Mile Leisure Ride. For those that prefer a shorter more leisurely ride there is an 11 mile scenic loop winding through the western edge of St. Joseph County on roads with very little traffic. 18 Mile Ride. If you want a basically flat route a little longer than the leisure ride try the 18 mile loop through Mill Creek and the Fish Lake area. 26 Mile Ride. This route goes through Mill Creek and continues northwest then heads south to the Fish Lake area. It is basically flat with a few rolling hills. 36 Mile Loop. A flat route with a few rolling hills passing through Mill Creek then to the north and west toward LaPorte. If ridden at a 15 mph pace you should get back in plenty of time for the pot luck. 50 Mile Loop. A flat route with a few rolling hills passing through Mill Creek then to the north and west toward LaPorte. If you average 18 mph you will get back before the potluck starts. If you ride a slow pace some of the food might be gone before you get back.

Leisure Rides

Posted on April 14, 2013

We will have leisure rides on Mondays at 6:00 p.m. again this year starting on June 3rd. The ride start will be at Pinhook Park each week. Leisure rides are perfect for new riders, families and anyone who wants ride at slower pace with a group that stays together. The leisure ride takes advantage of access to the bike paths along the river and on the Notre Dame campus. The video below is from a 2012 leisure ride.

Summer Solstice Ride and Potluck

Posted on February 20, 2013

The Summer Solstice ride will be Wednesday June 19, 2013 at 6:00 p.m. at Madeline Bertrand Park. Bring a dish for a potluck after the ride. The club will provide beverages.